Troop News : Christmas Party, Winter Blast, Annual Planning, Ski Trip

The meeting last Monday (12/8) featured Ms. Beverly Berry from the Alabama Organ Bank and Mr. Smith who covered the music merit badge. Both were excellent presentations.

The previous meeting at Mr. Joe Fiori's home (12/1), visiting his internationally known "O" scale model railroad, topped off December's activities except for the annual Troop Christmas Party this coming Monday 12/15.

Unless, he has an excuse from a parent, he needs to be there at the party. The Troop is providing snacks and soft drinks. Other than the "dirty Santa" mode set for the party with inexpensive "gag" gifts, one per Scout- we will talk quickly to planning out our strategy for the annual Troop Planning Conference on January 3 at the BPUMC. We will talk to who will be coming, that we will need a school calendar for each school attended by Scouts in our Troop so we can adjust to holidays and other activities to offset attendance problems.

We will also talk the possibility of separate Venture trips, planned by Venture I and II, with Venture parents/leaders, or a combination with all ages, while maintaining our Troop basics for the new and second to third year Scouts who have not experienced rappelling, firearms, and canoeing and or a combination of both. Leaders who intend to be active with Troop in 2009 should also plan to be present to discuss the practicality of ideas, introduce new ideas-camp outs/programs- and assume leadership roles in serving as planner/ facilitators for the trips.

We also want to talk to whether the planning conference will be a "lock in" or a dismissal before or after dinner, depending upon what the Scouts want and if Leaders will be available to assist with an over-nighter. If we vote a "lock in," then no Scouts will be permitted to leave the Church without the Scoutmaster's permission. No Scout will be permitted to bring a personal or family vehicle to preclude problems we have had in the past due to vehicle access by older Scouts.

Last year was one of our best, but we were plagued by attendance problems at meetings and trips due to various reasons. We need to assure 2009 minimizes these issues and maximizes the effect of the program for the Scouts and Leaders who attend.

We still need to emphasize recruitment, especially with Pack 321. We are still working on selecting Troop guides to work with the WEBELOs dens and if your son volunteers, we also need the dad to assist with occasional attendance for the Scout and to serve as a available advisor himself to keep our bonds strong.

We still have room on the Ski trip..it has the potential of our best yet and numbers will decrease the cost further.

We need a leader to serve as Summer Camp Coordinator this year to make announcements for fees, collect the fees, assure all the physicals are in and updated. This will help us assure all the details are in when we arrive at camp. Remember the dates for camp are the second week of June (7-13) 2009. The cost is $205.00. Payable as $75.00 in February, $75.00 in April, and the remaining in May. We will be staying in Boone's place just above the water activities area and the camp store.

Winter blast is still scheduled for the Scout on the GAC/Vulcan District web site for the week in between Christmas and New Years..It is good for about 2-4 merit badges and maybe the Polar Bear patch. Also coming up is the University University of Scouting for leaders on March 9...good opportunity for some certification courses for us.

And of course..we can always use a few more bus drivers....

Right now the trees on the lot represent our profit for the year...we will more than likely run the lot until the end of Dec 21( unless we sell them all sooner) and take it down on Sunday, at 1:00 PM after services.

Thanks for all your support....

YiS

dan s "Delivering the Promise"